House Sparrows in Ohio

House Sparrows live in Ohio all year. Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Across Ohio, house sparrows typically nest from April–August. Nest site: messy grass nest in any cavity, including nest boxes. Females lay 4–6 eggs, incubate for 10–14 days, and young leave the nest after 14 days.

Warm, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

• House Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as sugar maple for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Ohio, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:

An introduced species that evicts bluebirds and kills nestlings; use 1 1/2 in bluebird holes, monitor boxes, and avoid millet if it's a problem.

• Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
• In Ohio's winter: Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north.

Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows